Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "conservation"

Earth Day Celebration 2011

2011-02-24T00:59:50Z

Come along and be a part of the FREE fun at the City of Sacramento’s 2011 Earth Day celebration! Earth dwellers of all ages are invited to come celebrate and learn about our majestic world, and the Sacramento community’s role in helping to make our area a green and even more environmentally friendly city.

The Earth Day celebration takes place on Thursday April 21st, at the City Hall Plaza located at 915 I Street, and Cesar Chavez Park located just across tthe street in downtown Sacramento. Our celebration kicks off with lively entertainment at 9 :00 AM with the festivities continuing until 2:00 PM. The green fun includes interactive learning, complete with clean air demonstrations, ring-a-round the recycle, prizes, giveaways, and even Radio Disney! So, save the date, and come join the City of Sacramento’s Neighborhood Services Division for an Earth Day celebration that’s out of this world. See you there!

For additional information, call 808-6525.

City Provides Free Water Conservation Workshop to Help Residents Be Water Smart and Train Conservation Ambassadors

2011-02-24T00:46:27Z

The City of Sacramento Department of Utilities is presenting a FREE workshop to help customers use water wisely and learn the in’s and out’s of the City’s Water Conservation Ordinance. The workshop will take place on Saturday February 26 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the City of Sacramento Department of Utilities Water Conservation Office, 2260 Glen Ellen Circle.

Taught by certified Water Conservation Specialists, the workshop will provide tips and tools for creating a water wise landscape and ways to save water indoors. Attendees will also recieve information about the City's Water Wise House Call, Water Waste, and rebate programs.

Water Conservation Workshops provide an opportunity for those customers who have been fined by the City for a second notice of violation to have their fine waived. People interested in becoming Water Conservation Ambassadors can also attend this class to receive their Water Conservation Ambassador Training.

Future water conservation workshops will be held:

April 9, 2011, 8:30-10:30 a.m.
June 25, 2011, 8:30- 10:30 a.m.
July 30, 2011, 8:30-10:30 a.m.
August 27, 2011, 8:30-10:30 a.m.
October 22, 2011, 8:30-10:30 a.m.

All workshops will take place at the City of Sacramento Department of Utilities Water Conservation Office, 2260 Glen Ellen Circle, Sacramento, CA.

Theodore Roosevelt Exhibit at Leland Stanford Mansion

2010-07-02T03:40:31Z

Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt, the 26th president of our country, was indeed an amazing man, and more than 100 years after his two terms as president, we can still find things in his life’s work that have an impact on our own world.

An assortment of “T.R.” memorabilia is on display at the Leland Stanford Mansion State Historic Park. The exhibit is entitled “The Great Dreamer and the Great Doer: Theodore Roosevelt’s Impassioned Life,” and covers the most important parts of Roosevelt’s career, especially those pertaining to his conservation efforts.

“We owe Roosevelt so much in the way of conservation,” Adam Gottlieb, 46, said. “For the bird sanctuaries that he created, the national park lands that he created. It is without peer.”

Gottlieb’s personal collection of T.R. memorabilia makes up the exhibit, and he has been gathering the artifacts since he was 10 years old. He’s built up quite a collection in that time.

“I was convinced that this man was larger than life,” he said, remembering the first time he visited Roosevelt’s summer home, Sagamore Hill. “He was a big game hunter, he was a Rough Rider, he was a governor. Theodore Roosevelt lived life large.”

The exhibit includes rare, original “teddy bears,” promotional buttons and pins and many other artifacts from T..R.’s time as governor and president.

Included alongside the memorabilia are wonderful posters that highlight the conservational efforts of T.R. They are produced by the California Department of Parks and Recreation.

“The books he read taught him about conservation,” Park Interpretive Specialist Debbie Hollingsworth said. “That forests are not evil, scary places, but places to be revered.”

The exhibit runs through June 2011 and is free to the public. For information visit here.

Water Conservation Ambassadors Wanted!

2010-06-18T21:29:59Z

The City of Sacramento Department of Utilities is seeking volunteers to assist in the City’s water conservation efforts. Water Conservation Ambassadors will be trained to assist residents in finding leaks on their property, present conservation information at community events and how to spot and report water waste. The first training session for Water Conservation Ambassadors will take place on June 29, 2010 at 6 p.m. at the Department of Utilities Water Conservation Office, 2260 Glen Ellen Circle.

“Over the past year, we have seen a huge increase in the numbers of calls for service and a desire by the community to have water conservation information shared with their organizations or neighborhoods. We can’t think of a better way to share this information than neighbor to neighbor,” says Marty Hanneman, Director of the Department of Utilities. “These Water Conservation Ambassadors will be a huge asset to our department and allow our staff to focus on meeting Best Management Practices and reaching our goal of a 20% reduction in per capita water use by 2020.”

To become a City of Sacramento Water Conservation Ambassador, volunteers must be 18 years of age or older, sign a volunteer agreement and attend a training session. While all activities are voluntary, it is estimated that the time commitment will be approximately 2-4 hours per month. Bilingual volunteers are especially needed.

“We believe this is a great opportunity for all Sacramentans, from all walks of life to become more involved in their City, do something great for the environment, and make a difference in their neighborhood” says Marty Hanneman.

For more information about this program or about becoming an Ambassador, please visit http://www.cityofsacramento.org/utilities/water/water-conservation.cfm or call 916-808-8260.

Sacramento Zoo Celebrates Earth Fest

2010-04-04T18:18:44Z

Earth Fest at the Sacramento Zoo featured booths, crafts, entertainment and activities on Saturday April 3. Participants included the California Native Plant Society, IKEA, U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, Worm Fancy, Friends of the Public Library and many other environmental and conservation organizations, nature clubs, and recycling businesses.

Entrance to Earth Fest at the Zoo

Ikea gave away blue shopping bags at their table.

Kyle Flood from Village Nurseries; Village Nurseries will recycle 1, 5 and 15 gallon plant containers and give a donation to the Sacramento Zoo for each one turned in.

Sam Curtis, the "Zoo P.I.", shows off a few small animals during the Critter Caper show in the Sacramento Zoo amphitheater.

Face Painting by Linda; a young visitor receives a free face-painting at the Earth Fest at the Zoo.

The Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District explained the harmful effects of mercury to the environment.

Gus the Green tree frog, Sacramento Zoo's Mascot, poses for a photo with a young guest.

Photos by Ron Nabity. More images available here.

Green Summit Opens Tuesday

2010-03-17T23:29:43Z

The 2010 Green California Summit and Exposition opened on Tuesday, March 16, 2010 for two days at the Sacramento Community Center. Pre-Summit workshops were held on Monday. This year's theme is Committed to Sustainability and features education programs, awards and over 175 exhibitors. Admission to the exhibits and keynote presentations is free.

Tuesday's expo opened with comments from Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson and expo co-chair, Linda Adams, Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency. Senator Fran Pavley, author of AB 32, was the first keynote speaker. Pavley spoke about the current campaign to set aside AB 32 and defended the provisions of the Act with a Top Ten List of reasons to support AB 32.

Senator Fran Pavley, Tuesday keynote speaker

The second keynote speaker was 15-year-old Alec Loorz, founder of the non-profit organization, Kids-vs-Global Warming. Loorz spoke passionately about his generation's interest in fighting global warming. He developed an interest in climate change when he was 12 years old after viewing Al Gore's movie, An Inconvenient Truth. Loorz described his attempts to register as a trainer for Al Gore's organization, only to be turned down because of his age. He eventually met Al Gore and was invited to become an official trainer. Loorz has spoken to over 25,000 people and received a standing ovation from the audience when he finished his presentation.

Alec Loorz, Tuesday keynote speaker

Wednesday's scheduled keynote speakers will be Karen Douglas, Chairperson of the California Energy Commission, and F. Noel Perry, founder of Next 10.

The exhibit hall featured booths and demonstrations of a variety of environmental products and services. Some of the technologies on display included electric motorcycles and scooters, fuel cell automobiles, recycling services, electrical and water conservation products and landscaping alternatives.

The Green Expo exhibit hall

Chris White from the California Fuel Cell Partnership shows off a fuel cell vehicle

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger toured the exhibit floor on Tuesday morning, stopping at several booths as he walked around the expo. After his tour, Schwarzenegger defended AB 32 and said green technologies were one of the few areas producing new jobs.

Governor Schwarzenegger greets students from Paradise Intermediate School

A multimedia presentation of the Green California Summit and Expo can be viewed here.

Photos by Ron Nabity

Change your clocks, Change your Sprinkler Timer!

2010-03-12T19:28:26Z

When clocks are turned forward on Saturday night, the City of Sacramento Department of Utilities reminds residents and businesses to change their irrigation schedules as well.

The City’s current irrigation rules, found in the Water Conservation ordinance state that at the beginning of daylight savings time, residents and businesses may water up to three days a week, based on their address. Addresses ending in odd numbers may water on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday only and even-numbered addresses may water on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. There is no watering allowed on Mondays. Watering of landscapes must be completed before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m.

“While the ordinance allows customers to water their yards up to three days a week, we remind customers to continue to water with the weather. Do not water when it is raining and remember not to over-water and limit run-off from your property,” Utilities Director Marty Hanneman reminded Sacramento water customers.

Customers can call 3-1-1 or (916) 264-5011 to request a free Water Wise House call to help find ways to conserve water around their home and yard or to anonymously report water waste in their neighborhood.

Fairytale Town Goes Green!

2010-03-11T02:33:57Z

Fairytale Town's second annual Goes Green! event is back this weekend.

The family event will feature educational displays, activities and crafts aimed at promoting conservation and environmental awareness.

"When the director of Fairytale Town approached me with ideas about hosting an agricultural event, I wanted to tie in a green theme," said Education and Program Manager Sharlene Lal. "But as we developed the event, we realized that going green is a big idea and a movement that needs its own outlet."

Several local organizations have partnered with Fairytale Town to provide learning tools. Representatives from Solar Cookers International, the Department of Utilities, the Air Resources Board and more will be on-site, offering educational materials and handouts sharing easy ways families can change their habits to be more environmentally friendly.

Y-Not-Recycle representatives will be in attendance, handing out free coupons for electronic waste pick-ups.

SMUD will also be on-site, presenting a solar-powered demonstration trailer and promoting an upcoming mow-down lawnmower exchange. SMUD Board President Genevieve Shiroma will be offering a short presentation around noon about energy conservation.

For the kids, several hands-on activities will be available, including arts and crafts activities using recycled materials. There will be stations helping children create crowns and jewelry from newspapers and magazines as well as painting stations utilizing recycled bottles. Children are also welcome to participate in creating the "Helping Hands" collage, which involves contributing hand tracings and conservation pledges.

At three times throughout the day, the Puppet Art Theater will be performing a conservation-themed puppet show at the Children's Theater.

"The performance will be 'The Three Little Pigs' with a green twist," Lal said.

Fairytale Town Goes Green! will be held Saturday, March 13 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
General Admission is $4.50. Children 2 and younger are admitted free.

Wild & Scenic Film Fest Screened Thursday

2010-02-02T04:55:11Z

Local environmental and conservation organizations are bringing the Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival On Tour to Sacramento for the first time Thursday.

Save Our Sandhill Cranes and the Environmental Council of Sacramento have chosen 11 films for the three-hour festival being held at the Crest Theatre — a sampling of the annual film fest held last month in Nevada City.

Moviegoers will watch adventure films about a team kayaking in Papua New Guinea, Oregon tree climbers in search of the biggest Sitka spruces and surfing in Wyoming. Other films document life in the Anza Borrego desert, the rising acidity of the ocean and Kenya's environmental and social justice movement.

With more than 125 films and documentaries to consider, the Sacramento film committee tried to choose flicks that would resonate locally, said Matthew Baker, habitat director for ECOS and a committee member.

"I think we have a really good lineup of films," he said. "A lot of them are kind of inspiring calls to action for people to get involved locally."

The South Yuba River Citizens League launched its environmental film festival in 2003 as a fundraising project to protect the Yuba Watershed. The festival got its name in recognition of the group's success getting 39 miles of the river designated as "wild & scenic." That festival has grown to three days with dozens of films and 80 speakers. The league now offers a smaller film tour package to groups around the country.

The Sacramento event will raise funds for ECOS' regional conservation plan, the California Heartlands Project. The project is working to build a network of protected open space on working farms and ranches in order to protect biological diversity and the region's agricultural heritage and to give local residents more places to go for recreation and to learn about nature.

The project would help protect habitat for sandhill cranes, Swainson's hawks and the inhabitants of seasonal wetlands known as vernal pools, among other creatures, Baker said.

Sandhill cranes are elegant, long-necked gray birds with red feather caps and wingspans of six to eight feet. They are found in North America, Siberia and Cuba. The birds are popular among birders and nature photographers, including those who travel to locate prized species. The birds' appearance here for winter migration has been gaining more widespread attention in recent years.

The California Heartlands Project is getting involved in upcoming discussions on Elk Grove's proposed expansion of its city limits. The city, whose limits contain 8,000 acres "lying fallow," are trying to add another roughly 10,000 additional acres within city limits and thus expand into the southeast corner of Sacramento County, Baker said.

That area is overflow winter habitat for sandhill cranes, especially when Cosumnes River Preserve floods. Sandhill cranes that don't find suitable habitat will fly off and most likely never return after nesting in other areas, he said.

The California Heartlands Project is also seeking to preserve the last high-density vernal pool areas in east Sacramento county.

"Vernal pools are seasonal wetlands that are unique to California's Central Valley," he said. "Because of geologic conditions of having a hardpan soil, over the winter during rainy seasons, the pools collect. Throughout spring, you get the real blooming of life that happens there."

Two areas of ranch land — one along Jackson Highway and the other east of Rancho Cordova — support vernal pools with many endemic species, including fairy and tadpole shrimp. These areas are also under speculation for more urban growth, Baker said.

Organizers hope the film fest attracts enough people to fill one of the Crest's small theaters, which seats about 200. Tickets are being sold in advance for $10. ECOS is also offering a special one-year membership and film fest ticket special of $25. ECOS membership usually costs $35.

"I think we're going to fill the place," Baker said. "We're hoping if we can fill a small theater, we'll go for the big theater next time."

The Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival On Tour will run from 6-9p.m. Thursday at the Crest, 1013 K St. For more information, call 442-5189.

Changes to Sacramento Water Conservation Ordinance Go Into Effect Today

2009-12-09T17:50:25Z

Changes to the City of Sacramento Water Conservation Ordinance go into effect on December 9, 2009. The changes to the ordinance include:
□ After daylight savings time ends, watering landscapes and car washing is permitted one day a week, Saturday or Sunday only. Customers may choose which day to water or car wash on.
□ Customers who utilize drip irrigation are permitted to water their landscapes using the drip irrigation system at any time during the day, on any day of the week, including during summer months.
□ Limitations to how many times a violator may take the Water Conservation Class within a 24 month period to waive fines.

“The City of Sacramento reminds all of its customers that cooler weather means that landscapes do not need to be watered as frequently. Our ordinance specifies that after Daylight Savings Time ends each year, that customers cut back their watering to one day a week. Customers should consider turning systems off completely as rainy and foggy weather often provide all the moisture needed to keep a healthy landscape in the winter months,” said Marty Hanneman, Director, City of Sacramento Department of Utilities. “Customers are also reminded that even if this winter is a wet one, the City’s conservation ordinance will continue to be in effect next spring and we will continue to only permit watering of lawns three days a week.”

The changes to the ordinance were approved by the City Council on November 10, 2009.

City Reminds Residents of Metered Water Bill Switch

2009-12-04T00:37:15Z

The City of Sacramento Department of Utilities reminds its residential water customers that customers who have a water meter and who have received a comparative bill for at least one year will be converting to a metered rate in January 2010. Residents who have a meter, but who have not had a year of comparative billing will remain on a flat rate until they have received a year of comparative billing. Customers who do not currently have a water meter will receive a year of comparative billing once a water meter is installed before being switched to a metered rate.

The City is installing water meters on more than 110,000 homes by 2025 and converting customers with a water meter to metered billing in compliance with State law.

When being billed on a metered rate, customers will be billed a monthly service fee based on the size of their water meter as well as a volumetric charge for the water that they use. A customer who uses the median amount of water each month will have nearly the same annual water bill as their current annual flat rate bill. In general, customers who use more water than the median each month will pay more, and those who use less water will pay less than the current flat rate bill.

Customers are reminded that the City offers free water conservation consultations. Customers can call (916) 264-5011 or 311 to schedule a free Water Wise House Call. During the House Call, a water conservation specialist will help property owners with free conservation tips and tools and will assist the owner with an irrigation evaluation.

Interview: Ian Shive, Conservation Photographer

2009-11-05T05:56:04Z

Photos: 1) Ian Shive at work; 2) Sequoia National Park; 3) Yellowstone National Park

Interview by Tony Sheppard
Originally published in Capitol Weekly

Ian Shive, the photographer behind the new pictorial book "The National Parks: Our American Landscape" recently spent a day in Sacramento, visiting a management class in the Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration program at Sac State. I asked him a few questions about his work and the value of parks in our lives:

Photography as a living is new to you – before it was more like a cell phone plan: Unlimited nights and weekends.

Very true [laughs].

What were you doing before and how did you get into this?

I was working as a publicist for Columbia Pictures, marketing mainstream films. I worked on at least 60 films for them. I worked on the “Spiderman” franchise. We broke some new ground. It was a time when grassroots marketing really became a critical part of that type of film. Photography for me was kind of a passion but never to the point where it is today. It was something that I enjoyed, it was something that gave me a creative outlet in an environment that was creative marketing, but not the same as creating something from scratch. As I entered into the world and made my photographs visible for people in the professional community I got a lot of response and that encouraged me to then do more of that and get more of a response and see how far I could take it.

In the world of photography, which could take you anywhere, why the National Parks?

They were the obvious place to go when I was a corporate, drone. I was looking for a much better word. They’re the obvious place to go because you know you don’t have the time to explore the entire coast of California and sure it’s beautiful but you have to go down to every beach and I had Saturday and Sunday. So the obvious choices were to go to Sequoia and to Yosemite, the places where you knew you could go into and you would at least have some great options in a very short period of time.

The other thing I have to say is that National Parks are crown jewels of what we have in wilderness. They are the best, they are the true icons of American culture. Also knowing that they’re so vast that the roads only cover a small part of it that there would still be room for exploration as well, that there would be a theme I could develop on.

You’ve described the National Parks essentially as islands of conservation in, presumably, oceans of disregard. What do you mean by that and how do we change our mindset?

Well, we have borders. National Parks have borders. They end, they have communities that build up around them, they have laws that only protect things up to that line. A good example is the Channel Islands in California. The marine sanctuary itself is just this little square and if you go on the edge of that square you can fish. What you see is boatloads on the edge fishing, right where the line ends.

Wildlife doesn’t understand what that means. How do you manage that, how do you effectively manage something when it’s the size of a tennis court? And that’s a sanctuary? For what?

And that’s always been a confusing thing to me and so I try and push an agenda that you can’t fence certain things in and they don’t work well if you do. I think a lot of biology and a lot of studies have proven that effective environment management has come in corridors.

You’ve called yourself a conservation photographer, rather than a nature photographer – how do you make that distinction?

Very simple. I feel the nature photographer does exactly what I do in the sense of photographing a beautiful landscape or wildlife or something like that. A conservation photographer takes those images and becomes an advocate for whatever they’re photographing. It’s advocacy that makes the difference – not just shooting something but working to protect it. The longer you spend in a place like Yosemite or anywhere wilderness…you realize that you’ve been borrowing from it: Maybe it’s solitude, maybe it’s a portfolio of images, maybe it’s “Grizzly Automotive” – you’re always borrowing from it but you’re never giving back.

When I was photographing in Henry Coe and a lot of other [California] State Parks, I had no idea that this issue would be happening – underfunding or cutting or closing them completely.

So what do you tell Californians now, who are watching this portfolio of extraordinary places at risk of neglect and underfunding?

We’ve got to fight it. We’ve got to find a way to fund it, find a way to fight it, and find a way to preserve it. I think the State parks are no less important than our National Parks. They’re not just about environment, they’re about culture, they affect people. The National Parks contribute $10 billion a year to their local economies. I believe State Parks have a major contribution in a similar way. I think the public needs to become stewards of these places and make sure they’re run properly. If we all contribute as a community because they’re for the community, then I think we’ll actually find some solutions that work and we can continue having these places.

Sierra Club Yolano Group Discusses Berryessa Snow Mountain Project

2009-10-22T05:53:37Z

In the heart of quiet, residential west Davis, the management members of the Sierra Club Yolano Group, a close-knit circle of eight elderly friends that represent the Yolo and Solano counties, met on Oct. 8 to discuss the progress to set aside a national conservation area surrounding Berryessa Snow Mountain.

The proposed national conservation area would include 800,000 acres west of Sacramento and north of the San Francisco Bay, with elevations ranging between 2,000 and 7,000 feet. Putah and Cache creeks both wind through the area, greenery to the whole valley. The Sierra Club is one of many groups trying to get this land legal protection.

The land is also home to many animals, including tule elk, black bear, mountain lion, bald eagles, falcons, white pelicans, osprey, bobcat, foxes, and river otters.

“Our goal is to protect this incredible biodiversity,” said Bob Schneider, the Yolano group’s conservation chair.

Getting legal protection for the land would allow it to be monitored and conserved in ways that not only protect the land, but work with the people who currently live and farm in the area and help them become more environmentally conscious. It would limit the building of new houses there and keep the animals as far away from human tampering as possible.

“Any farming is better than houses, because once you pave it, you can’t get it back,” Marc Vayssières, the treasurer of the group pointed out.

Various government agencies and local farmers, however, fear that the change to “national conservation area” might bring more people to the area, thus making the initial problems worse.

“They’re concerned that more people are going to impact their operation, and that’s a valid concern,” said Schneider. “We hope to see this happen late this year or early next year.”

The Yolano group currently has about 1,475 members, but the management group meets on the second week of every month and is completely open to the public.

“Since it’s open to the public, we never know how many people are going to show up,” said Ida Bryan, who is in charge of newsletter distribution. “But we always love to see new faces!”

“We’re one of the most democratic groups around,” joked Schneider. “We discuss issues and discuss issues and discuss issues. Everyone is heard, not everyone agrees, but decisions are always made.”

City plans to beef up water conservation rules

2009-04-14T00:35:50Z

The city plans to bolster its existing water conservation rules by updating the way it fines residents who waste water at their homes and businesses.

Sacramento’s Department of Utilities is proposing to revise the city’s water conservation ordinance in part to respond to the third year of California’s drought, said Jessica Hess, a media and communications specialist at the utilities department.

The city is making major revisions to its process for managing water waste violations. In its current form, the ordinance is difficult to enforce, Hess said. City staffers currently visit sites numerous times as they seek to enforce the rules.

“It will be more efficient for our staff to address water waste concerns” with the new enforcement rules because staffers won’t have to make numerous visits to the property, Hess said.

The proposed revisions would allow city staffers to simultaneously fine and educate violators, she explained.

The City Council will address the water conservation proposal at its May 5 meeting. Sacramento residents can weigh in on the city’s plans by contacting Hess at jhess@cityofsacramento.org.

For a first-time violation, property owners and residents would receive a written warning. Under the proposal, a resident who commits a second violation of the ordinance would be levied a $25 fine. However, the violator has the option to take a water conservation class instead of paying the fine. The idea is similar to traffic school, Hess said.

A third violation comes with a $100 fine. The fine for a fourth violation jumps to $500.

The new fines and penalty system would replace the current enforcement process, which is more complex.

The revised ordinance would be applied citywide, affecting all Sacramento residents and businesses. The city plans to prepare separate rules for its properties.

As they prepare the ordinance, city staffers have been discussing the characteristics of Sacramento’s plants with landscapers and horticulturalists, Hess said.

Many Sacramento residents are unaware of the city’s existing water conservation ordinance, she pointed out.

Kathleen Haley is a staff writer for The Sacramento Press

Sacramento: Energy-efficient light bulb capitol of the nation

2009-04-01T02:12:29Z

According to a study conducted by the plastics manufacturer Nalgene, Sacramento leads the nation in the use of energy-efficient light bulbs.

The study, called America's Least Wasteful Cities, questioned 3,750 people living in America's 25 largest cities. Participants were asked about how much garbage their households generated, their shopping and transportation habits, and other sustainable behaviors.

Mayor Kevin Johnson said, "I'm proud that Sacramento tops the list in using energy-efficient light bulbs but there's still plenty more work to be done to move us up the list in other categories. Particularly with the challenging economic conditions we're in, we should not reduce our efforts to reuse and recycle."

Besides being number one in the use of energy-efficient light bulbs, Sacramento also received high marks in the purchase of bulk foods to avoid extra packaging, and choosing not to drive for short trips.

Sacramento received its lowest scores in the amounts of garbage its homes generated and the reuse of Ziploc bags and tinfoil.

Out of the 25 cities, Sacramento was ranked 17th overall, after Cleveland but before Miami. San Francisco captured the number one spot, while Atlanta was ranked last.

The study concluded that while many Americans were making small changes, like turning off lights and saving food to make their routines less wasteful, larger steps were generally not being adopted. The study recommended that more Americans air-dry their clothes instead of using electric dryers, take public transportation, and use rain barrels to conserve water.

The full study can be found here.

What do Sacramento Press readers do to conserve?

Drought-resistant landscaping

2008-10-16T19:54:50Z

In my first article for this storyline I discussed several simple steps that individuals can implement to reduce their water consumptions. To read more about simple conservation tips, please click on the green storyline tab and select the article titled, "The Crisis." However, in this time of crisis immediate action is a necessary step, so it is also useful to consider the more drastic methods of conservation, such as drought-resistant landscaping.

Outdoor residential water use accounts for 21 percent of all urban water use, according to the Pacific Institute, an environmental research group located in the East Bay. Activities included under this umbrella term of "Residential Outdoor" water use are landscaping, hosing down walkways and driveways (though this is discouraged by city water officials), and recreational use like swimming pools.

Landscaping is the most water demanding among these activities. It accounts for over 50 percent of residential water expenditure, according to a brochure published by the City of Sacramento Department of Utilities. That luscious green is beautiful, but it demands an immense amount of our valuable, and dwindling, supply of water. In fact, a traditional lawn of 1,000 square feet requires about 2 inches of water per week, amounting to 100,000 gallons of water per year.

An increasingly popular alternative to the traditional lawn-centered landscape is dry landscaping, or "xeriscaping." By using drought-resistant and native plants, groundcovers, rocks and smart landscape design, xeriscaping aims to drastically reduce the amount of water needed for landscapes. Many people have misinterpreted the term "xeriscape" to mean "zero-scape", where use of greenery is limited, leaving landscapes looking barren. This is not an accurate interpretation of the goals of xeriscaping. Dry landscapes can be very aesthetically pleasing when executed properly. Other benefits of xeriscaping include pesticide freedom, supporting native eco-systems, and reducing the amount of maintenance required.

In addition to native plants, there are some other landscaping options that will help save water. For example, Eco-Lawn is a blend of organic, wild meadow grasses that requires little water and infrequent mowing. The company that produces Eco-Lawn, Wildflower Farm, claims that it uses 75 percent less water than a traditional lawn and needs to be mowed only once a month to maintain a neat appearance. An Eco-Lawn of 1,000 square feet uses only 25,600 gallons a year, which is 1/4 of the water needed for the traditional lawn.

On the Wildflower Farm Web site, there is a chart that compares total costs for installing and maintaining a traditional lawn compared to an Eco-Lawn over 10 years. If their claims are accurate, consumers could save about $1,900 in the first year and about $6,500 over the full 10 years.

Tom Larson, a former member of the Nursury Growers Association of California, created a list of ideas for a California-friendly landscape that can be easily implemented. Larson points out that it is the soil and the microorganisms in the soil that are responsible for a healthy plant, not the fertilizers that we put into the soil. Larson advises gardeners to avoid chemical fertilizers, which often kill these organisms, and to feed their soil with compost, fish emolsion, and organic fertilizers.

Two other suggestions he offers are adding mulch between plants to keep the ground cool and limit evaporation, and to compost. Composting reduces green waste and feeds your soil at the same time!

Going lawnless or using alternative breeds like the wild grasses of Eco-Lawn requires considerably less labor for maintenance, saves water and money, and helps to reduce the damage of drought on our earth. The California Department of Water Resources and the University of California Cooperative Extension have put out a 160-page document that describes, at great length, how to calculate water needs for specific landscapes and how to plan a landscape with a particular water-use goal in mind. A quick internet search also turns up hundreds of great articles about how to get started on converting your yard to drought-friendly species and design.

Do you have a dry landscape? How much water do you save? Are you pleased with the appearance of your yard? Do you compost your green waste? I want to hear about your experience with xeriscaping. Please add your comments and questions in the conversation space below.

The Crisis

2008-10-14T20:25:43Z

So you've heard, or in case you haven't, California is in a drought. Governor Schwarzenegger has declared a State of Emergency for Sacramento County, among others, because water levels are so low. The water year that ended on September 30, 2008, was classified by officials at the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation as "critically dry."

In fact, the months of March to September 2008 were the driest on record for the Northern Sierra, which only received 3.5 inches of rainfall, a mere 23 percent of the average. Also, the major state reservoirs are only holding about 1/3 of their capacity when a normal year would fill them to about 2/3 of capacity. Most significant for Sacramento residents, the Sacramento River system, as well as the San Joaquin River system, are classified as "Critical" for this water year.

This is a crisis that is affecting the whole world, but the signs are especially clear in Sacramento, California. This means that we all need to reassess our water consumption habits and aspire to use and waste less. Already, consumers who receive their water from the Central Valley Project, including many regions in the Sacramento area, have seen cuts to their water supply of 25 percent, and contracts for agricultural water customers were cut by 60 percent. The City of Sacramento owns senior rights on the water obtained from both the Sacramento and American rivers, so residents don't have to worry about the immediate threat of enforced water restrictions like those recently imposed on the residents of Folsom and Roseville.

Jessica Hess, a city spokeswoman with the Department of Utilities, has said, "The city of Sacramento is in a very fortunate position because of our senior rights. The folks who have junior rights are the first to lose their water in a dry year." Despite this fortunate position, there is a city code,13.04.860, active during all years, wet and dry alike, which demands socialresponsibilityby specifying appropriate and inappropriate uses of water.

There are so many ways that you can conserve water just by adjusting your simple day-to-day habits. Notletting the sink runwhile you brush your teeth, only running a full load of clothes in the washing machineand reducing shower times are alleasy ways to conserve water. If you don't know how much water you are using, try calculating your water-footprint using the free water calculator! Below is a complete list of conservation tips for both indoor and outdoor activities. Try implementing just a few at a time as a way to ween yourself off the wasteful water practices that are so pervasive in our society. Old habits die hard, but the stakes are high and the costs of extreme drought are sure to be higher, so we must all work together to conserve our precious water.

Outside Water Use

(from Regional Water Authority - RWA)

- Use a shut-off nozzle instead of letting the hose run.

- Avoid water-wasting run-off - don't water sidewalks, driveways or gutters.

- Maintain your irrigation system - frequently check for leaks, clogs or misdirected sprinklers and emitters.

* Check for leaks by shutting off all faucets, spigots and other water fixtures. If the triangular-shaped leak detector on your water meter is still turning, you probably have a leak.

- Water outdoors between midnight and 10 a.m. to avoid peak energy hours and minimize the sun's evaporating effect. Avoid peak water use hours between the hours of 5 and 8:00 a.m.

- Water with the weather - turn off your sprinkler system during the rainy season or install a rain sensor to automatically shut off your sprinklers when it is raining.

- Group plants with similar water, soil and sun exposure needs.

- Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants to reduce evaporation and water-stealing weeds.

- Reduce lawn size, and incorporate water efficient plants into your landscape. (For a list of drought tolerant plants native to the Sacramento area visit the following: Drought Tolerant California Native Shrubs)

(from Sacramento County Water Agency - SCWA)

- Sweep it, don't wash it away - when cleaning up dead leaves, dirt and debris, use a broom rake or leaf blower on sidewalks, driveways and patios rather than a hose. Wash down paved surfaces only to alleviate immediate fire or sanitation hazards.

- Stat: One leaky drip per second wastes 6,000 gallons of water per year.

Inside Water Use

(from RWA)

- Install a low-flow showerhead (save up to 800 gallons a month)

- Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth (save up to 10 gallons/day)

- Install ultra-low flush toilets (save 10-40 gallons a day)

- Run only full loads of laundry and dishes (save up to 800 gallons/month)

- Use high-efficiency washing machines (save more than 16 gallons/load)

- Repair a leaky faucet (save up to 429 gallons/month) (According to Pacific Institute, approximately 12% of indoor water use is actually the result of waste from leaks.)

- Install a low-flow faucet aerator (save more than 140 gallons/month)

- Fix toilet leaks (save up to 500 gallons/day!!)

(from SCWA)

- Turn off the water while soaping up in the shower.